Top 100 Morgan VAMs

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Top 100 Morgan VAMs

The Top 100 Morgan dollar varieties were published by Dr. Michael Fey and Jeff Oxman in 1996*. It was intended to re-focus collectors and dealers onto only the most significant VAMs known to overcome the problem of "micro-vamming" - aka the search for and collection of insignificant varieties. And what a success it has been. Many of these VAMs have entered the mainstream collecting of Morgan dollars; it has become unheard of to claim a complete Morgan dollar collection without including the 1882-O/S, Scarface, Hot Lips, and an 1900-O over CC example among several other varieties.

Slot Year VAM Description
1 1878-P VAM-5 8TF DDO, particularly R-I-B in PLURIBUS.
2 1878-P VAM-9 8TF First Morgan Dollar. Comma Feather Reverse
1878-P VAM-9A 8TF First Morgan Dollar. Clashed Obverse n & t
3 1878-P VAM-14.11 8TF Wild Eye Spikes
4 1878-P VAM-15 8TF Doubled Liberty, concave reverse
5 1878-P VAM-23 8TF Doubled profile (nose, lips, & chin)
6 1878-P VAM-32 7/3 TF Variety
7 1878-P VAM-41 7/7 TF Variety
VAM-41B 7/7 TF Variety Gouge in Cap, clashed obverse n
8 1878-P VAM-44 7/5 TF Variety. Tripled Obverse blossoms, doubled eagle's legs. "The King of VAMs"
VAM-44A 3 TF, Clashed Obverse n & st, Reverse M
9 1878-P VAM-45 7/0 TF Variety. Eagle's legs are doubled to left
10 1878-P VAM-70 Doubled R-I-B variety.
11 1878-P VAM-100 Incuse M, Short Nock
VAM-101 Incuse M, Short Nock
12 1878-P VAM-115 Tripled Leaves & Cotton Bolls
1878-P VAM-198 Tripled Leaves & Cotton Bolls, over-polished reverse
1878-P VAM-199.1 Same as VAM-198
13 1878-P VAM-117 Tripled Star, closed O in God
1878-P VAM-141 Tripled Star, open O in God
14 1878-P VAM-171 Tripled R
15 1878-P VAM-203 Short Leaf
1878-P VAM-203A Short Leaf, Clashed Obv. n, W, st, Rev. M
16 1878-P VAM-220 Tripled R in PLURIBUS
17 1878-P VAM-223 Over-polished 'L' in LIBERTY
18 1878-S VAM-26 Long Nock, s tilted left
1878-S VAM-27 Long Nock, broken N and D
1878-S VAM-56 Long Nock, s mint mark set high
1878-S VAM-57 Long Nock, s mint mark set left
1878-S VAM-58 Long Nock, thick eye spike
1878-S VAM-59 Long Nock, s mint mark slightly left
1878-S VAM-60 Long Nock, s mint mark high and left
1878-S VAM-62 Long Nock, s mint mark set far left
1878-S VAM-72 Long Nock, die chips under eye
19 1878-CC VAM-6 Doubled Leaves & ear, CC almost touches wreath
1878-CC VAM-18 Doubled Leaves & ear, CC normal
20 1878-CC VAM-11 Lines in Eagle's Wing.
21 1878-CC VAM-24 / 24A Doubled Leaves. Ear not doubled. Nice die break on late die state.
22 1879-O VAM-4 Triple O/Horizontal O with doubled 9 obverse
1879-O VAM-28 Triple O/Horizontal O with doubled 87 obverse
23 1879-S VAM-4 Reverse of 1878, Die Rust Dots on wing next to leg
1879-S VAM-6 Reverse of 1878, TIUST, Engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-9 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 9, Engraved wing feather from 1878-S
1879-S VAM-23 Reverse of 1878, Die Rust Dots on wing next to leg
1879-S VAM-25 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 7, Die Rust Dots on wing next to leg
1879-S VAM-34 Reverse of 1878, Engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-34A Reverse of 1878, Engraved wing feather, polished-down reverse
1879-S VAM-34B Reverse of 1878, Engraved wing feather, polished initial
1879-S VAM-35 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 9, Engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-39 Reverse of 1878, Engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-42 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 79, engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-43 Reverse of 1878, Doubled Date, engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-46 Reverse of 1878, TIUST, Doubled 79, engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-50 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 7 Top, engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-51 Reverse of 1878, Tripled Stars, Doubled 9 & motto, engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-52 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 7, Engraved wing feather
1879-S VAM-56 Reverse of 1878, Tripled Stars, Die rust spots on wing Next to Leg
1879-S VAM-66 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 187, Die rust on wing next to leg
1879-S VAM-67 Reverse of 1878, Doubled 18-9 & tripled/quadrupled stars
1879-S VAM-77 Reverse of 1878, Engraved wing feather from 1878-S, 9 upper tail feathers
1879-S VAM-77A Reverse of 1878, Engraved wing feather from 1878-S, 8 Upper tail feathers
24 1879-CC VAM-3 Large over Small CC (so-called "capped CC")
25 1880-P VAM-1A Die Break Knobbed 8
VAM-1A1 Die Break Wreath Bow
VAM-1A2 Broken Knob 8, Die Break Wreath Bow
26 1880-P VAM-6 8/7 spikes above, and a crossbar inside, 2nd 8
27 1880-P VAM-7 8/7 crossbar at the top inside of the second 8
28 1880-P VAM-8 8/7 Ears top left & right 2nd 8
29 1880-P VAM-9 8/7 Stem. Faint diagonal marks in both loops of the 2nd 8
30 1880-P VAM-23 80/79. Remains of 7 on the surface of the 0
31 1880-CC VAM-4 80/79. overdate markings in 8 & 0
32 1880-CC VAM-5 8/7 High 7 in 2nd 8
1880-CC VAM-6 8/7 Low 7 in 2nd 8
33 1880-O VAM-1A Hangnail reverse. Reclassified VAM-48
34 1880-O VAM-4 Crossbar with Micro O
1880-O VAM-5 Crossbar with Medium O
35 1880-O VAM-6 8/7 Ear top outside left of 8
1880-O VAM-6A 8/7 Ear top outside left of 8, die gouge left wreath
1880-O VAM-6C 8/7 Ear top outside left of 8, die gouge left wreath
VAM-6D 8/7 Spike, Clashed Obverse st
36 1880-O VAM-6B 8/7 Ear with Hangnail reverse. Reclassified VAM-49
37 1880-O VAM-43 Doubled Ear
38 1880-S VAM-8 8/7 Diagonal, gunk top loop 2nd 8, Medium S
1880-S VAM-9 8/7 Diagonal, gunk top loop 2nd 8, Large S
39 1880-S VAM-10 8/7 Crossbar. Markings in top of 2nd 8
40 1882-O VAM-3 O/S Flush. Look for the rare early die state
VAM-3A Doubled 82, Open 2, O/S "Flush", Clashed Obverse us
41 1882-O VAM-4 O/S Recessed. An Ultra-rare early die state is known.
42 1882-O VAM-5 O/S Broken. Look for the rare early die state.
43 1882-O VAM-7 O/O repunched mint mark
44 1883-P VAM-10 Sextupled Stars
45 1883-O VAM-4 Strong O/O
46 1884-P VAM-3 Large Dot near designer's initial: M
1884-P VAM-4 Small Dot near designer's initial: M
47 1884-O VAM-6 O/O. Underlying remains at bottom left outside
48 1885-S VAM-6 S/S extra serif at bottom of S mint mark
1885-S VAM-9 S/S, digit in denticles below date
49 1886-P VAM-1A Line in 6. Two die pairs known.
VAM-1A1 Line in 6,Clashed Obverse In & st
50 1886-P VAM-17 Doubled Arrows
51 1886-P VAM-21 Old VAM-1B, Line through M caused by a misplaced 8
52 1886-O VAM-1A Clashed E with 1, 2 or 7 clashes
53 1886-S VAM-2 S/S. on both top & bottom serifs
54 1887-P VAM-1A Donkey Tail. Die Break bottom right of D in DOLLAR
1887-P VAM-25A 1A is LDS of 25; Donkey Tail. Die Break bottom right of D in DOLLAR
55 1887-P VAM-2 7/6 curved line through bottom stem of 7
56 1887-P VAM-5 Doubling is most prominent on last 87
57 1887-P VAM-12 Alligator Eye. Doubled vertical line at front of Liberty's eye.
VAM-12A Doubled LIBERTY, Alligator Eye, Clashed Obverse Die st
58 1887-O VAM-2 Doubled 1, Tripled 7 in date
59 1887-O VAM-3 7/6. Remains of an underlying 6 at the base of the 7
60 1887-O VAM-5 Doubled Stars
VAM-5A Doubled Stars & Motto, Die Break Below 18
VAM-5B Doubled Stars & Motto, Die Break Below 18& at B
61 1887-O VAM-22A Pitted Reverse. Formerly VAM-22
VAM-22B Doubled Eyelid & Stars, Pitted Reverse, Clashed Obverse G & t
62 1887-S VAM-2 S/S. remains of original S visible inside top loop
1887-S VAM-2A S/S. remains of original S visible inside top loop, Damaged Denticles
63 1888-P VAM-11 Strong doubling at back and left inside of ear
1888-P VAM-11A Strong doubling at back and left inside of ear with die clashes
64
1888-O
 VAM-1A Clashed E on Reverse, most have die break through R
65 1888-O VAM-1B Scar Face. Die Break from the rim across Liberty's cheek
66 1888-O VAM-4 Hot Lips. Doubling of Liberty's nose, lips and chin
67 1888-O VAM-9 Doubled Arrows Reverse
68 1888-O VAM-2 Oval O mint mark set high. Die Pair #2 is now VAM-34
1888-O VAM-5 Oval O, Doubled 1. Very tough to find
1888-O VAM-6 Oval O, Last 8 Doubled
1888-O VAM-17 Oval O, Near Date
1888-O VAM-18 Oval O, Doubled Date
1888-O VAM-21 Oval O tilted left
1888-O VAM-24 Oval O high and tilted left
1888-O VAM-34 Oval O, Normal Date, Oval O set high and tilted slightly left (Formerly VAM-2 Die 2)
69 1889-P VAM-19A Bar Wing normal date. Former VAM-5A.
1889-P VAM-19B Bar Wing normal date. Clashed N obverse. (Must have the wing die break to be a Top 100)
1889-P VAM-22 Bar Wing far date
70 1889-O VAM-1A Clashed E Reverse. A monster double clash E stage is known
VAM-1A1 Clashed Obverse t, Reverse Partial E & M
VAM-1A2 Clashed Obverse G, T, R, D & O, Reverse BER, M
71 1889-O VAM-2 Oval O
1889-O VAM-2A Oval O with large die chip on right side of 1st 8 ( VAM-17 eliminated and became VAM-2A)
72 1889-O VAM-6 Doubled 18-9 at bottoms
73 1890-CC VAM-4 Tail Bar Die Gouge
74 1891-P VAM-2 Doubled Ear
1891-P VAM-2A Doubled Ear Late Die State Mustache Die Break
VAM-2B Doubled Ear, Clashed Obverse n
75 1891-CC VAM-3 Spitting Eagle. Die Gouge in front of eagle's mouth
VAM-7 Spitting Eagle, Far Date, Spiked E. Die Gouge in front of eagle's mouth
76 1891-O VAM-1A Clashed E on Reverse, Late Die stage has eyeball die break
VAM-1A1 Clashed Obverse D & O, Reverse BERT
VAM-1A2 Clashed Obverse D & O, Reverse BERT, Dome Die Sink
VAM-1A3 Clashed Obverse D & O, Reverse BERT, Die Break Left Wreath
77 1891-S VAM-3 Stars to the left of the date doubled
78 1892-O VAM-5 Doubled 2, Ear, O/O Top, Very Near Date, Overlapping Reeding (VAM-7 Incorporated into VAM-5)
79 1892-S VAM-2 All numerals of date doubled
VAM-7 Doubled 892, S Tilted Right
80 1893-P VAM-4 Bottom edges of stars to the left and right of date doubled
81 1895-S VAM-4 S/Horizontal S
82 1896-P VAM-4 Stars to the left and right of dated doubled
1896-P VAM-4A Stars to the left and right of dated doubled, Gouges Cap & UN
83 1896-P VAM-19 Top of an '8' visible in the denticles
84 1896-O VAM-4 Micro O mint mark (Privately Made)
85 1897-P VAM-6A Pitted Reverse w/ Near Date
86 1899-O VAM-4 Micro O mint mark. Normal Date position
1899-O VAM-5 Micro O mint mark. Lines in Eagle's Wing
1899-O VAM-6 Micro O mint mark. Date set to left.
1899-O VAM-31 Micro O mint mark. Normal Date position
1899-O VAM-32 Micro O mint mark. Normal Date position
87 1899-S VAM-7 Doubled Date. Both 9's doubled above the numerals
88 1900-P VAM-11 Doubled Eagle Reverse
1900-P VAM-24 Doubled Eagle Reverse, Quintupled Obverse Stars
89 1900-O VAM-5 Micro O mint mark (Privately Made)
90 1900-O VAM-7 O/CC Low with Doubled 0
1900-O VAM-7A O/CC Low, die chip over the 9
1900-O VAM-8 O/CC Centered Shifted Left
1900-O VAM-8A O/CC Centered Shifted Left with Rust Spots.
1900-O VAM-8B O/CC Centered Shifted Left with Rust Spots, clashed.
1900-O VAM-8C O/O/CC Centered,Shifted Left Rust Spots, Near Date, Clashed Obv.n,st., Polished Rev.
1900-O VAM-10 O/CC Centered, Low
VAM-10A O/CC Centered, Low, Clashed n, M
1900-O VAM-11 O/CC High, Shifted Right
1900-O VAM-12 O/CC High, Shifted Right
91 1900-O VAM-9 O/CC Centered, Shifted Right, Doubled Date
92 1900-O VAM-15 Doubled Stars to the right of the date
1900-O VAM-15A Doubled Stars to the right of the date, clashed
93 1900-O VAM-29A Heavy Die Break up from rim through 19 of the date
94 1901-P VAM-3 Shifted Eagle. DDR
95 1902-P VAM-4 Back of Liberty's ear doubled
96 1902-O VAM-3 Micro O mint mark (Privately Made)
97 1903-S VAM-2 Small S mint mark
98 1921-P VAM-41A Pitted Reverse. Formerly VAM-41/1A
1921-P VAM-41B Pitted Reverse, Die File Lines Lower Reverse
99 1921-P VAM-2 Infrequently Reeded, revised into VAMs 13, 25 ,26, 27, 28
VAM-2A Infrequently Reeded, revised to VAM-27A
1921-P VAM-4 Infrequently Reeded, Doubled N of IN
1921-P VAM-13 Infrequently Reeded, Doubled Stars & Date
VAM-13A Infrequently Reeded, Doubled Stars and Date, Die Gouges ST, Scribbling Die Scratches
1921-P VAM-25 Infrequently Reeded, Doubled Jaw & Left Stars
VAM-25A Infrequently Reeded, Doubled Jaw & Left Stars, Die Gouge S, Scribbling Die Scratches
1921-P VAM-26 Infrequently Reeded, Tripled Chin & Nose Tip
VAM-26A Infrequently Reeded, Tripled Chin/Nose, Beveled Denticles, Scribbling Die Scratches
1921-P VAM-27 Infrequently Reeded, Tripled Neck
1921-P VAM-27A Infrequently Reeded, old 2A, die flakes above ST in STATES
1921-P VAM-28 Infrequently Reeded, Doubled Jaw Front
VAM-28A Infrequently Reeded, Doubled Jaw Front, Scribbling Die Scratches, Beveled Denticles
1921-P VAM-29 Infrequently Reeded, Tripled 9 & Stars
VAM-29A Infrequently Reeded, Tripled 9 & Stars, Beveled Denticles
1921-P VAM-44 Infrequently Reeded, D2A rev, Horiz polishing line thru right wing
100 1921-D VAM-1A2 Filled Die: S in Trust missing. Former VAM-1A

The Top 100 Morgan Dollar Varieties: The VAM Keys Copyright 2009 RCI. With permission from the authors Michael S. Fey, Ph.D., [http://www.rcicoins.com], and Jeff Oxman, [http://www.vamlink.com]
Please click here for the full VAMworld.com definitions page.

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